Roaster



De@ 16, 1941 v H. w. UHLRIG Erm. 2,266,099

ROSTER Filed Jan. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?I l Inventor-5: Herwig W. Uhlrig, David W. Gustaveson,

10H1/ auf@ The A'Lutorheg.

f vertically adjusted Patented Dec. 1s, 1941 BOASTER Harry w. ohms. Stratford, and Davia W. Gustaveson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignors to Gen- .eral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 26, 1939, Serial N0. 252,952

(Cl. 21S-35) This invention relates to an electric roaster and more .particularly to a broiler and griddle attachment for such roaster and has for Aits object the provision of a simple, efiicient,`and rugged device of this; character which can be conveniently operated and is readilyremovable from the roaster. y

Broiler attachments have been provided for use with an electric roaster but with each of these attachments it has been necessary to remove the cooking utensils located in the roaster Wellin order to perform the broiling operations. This is a distinct disadvantage in those-instances where a portion of the food to be served has been prepared in the roaster prior to broiling, for the removal of this food means either that it will be cooled before consumption or an additional warm storage space must be provided for it.

It is therefore an objectof this invention to provide a broiler attachment for an electric roaster which is so arranged with respect to the roaster well that it is unnecessaryto remove the cooking` utensils located therein operations.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an. attachment for an electric roaster which attachment may be used eitherl as a broiler or as a griddle` A further object of this invention 'is to provide an attachment of this character which is hingedly mounted on the roaster and can be with respect to the top of said roaster. y

It is a further object of this invention to provide in such a broiler and griddle attachment a heatingunit of simplified construction which is detachably mounted inthe attachment so that the surfaces thereof may be readily cleaned,

It is a further object of this invention topro- 'l vide means for preventing short circuitingof the contact prongs of the heating unit when in use. It is an additional object of this invention to provide a broiler and griddle attachment arduring broiling griddle attachment of this invention in its operative position; Fig. 2 represents a plan view. partly in section, of the arrangement shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the hinge construction showing the position of the broiler when rotated to its full open position; Fig. 5 is a detailed'view, partly in section, of the means for vertically adjusting the broiling unit, the latter being moved the maximum distance above the broiling pan; Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the hinge construction and adjusting means taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a partial plan View ofthe removable heating unit of the broiler; Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section; of the heating unit shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a detailed view of a portion of one end wall of the broiling unit showing the means for locking the'heating unit in position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, this invention is shown as applied to an electric roaster having outer walls I0 and inner walls Il which denne a roasting well l2 in which is located a suitable rack I3 upon which are arranged cooking utensils I4. A suitable insulating material l5, such as rock wool, is located between the inner and outer walls of the roaster. It will be understood that heating elements (not shown) are arranged between the inner and outer walls adjacent the side and bottom Walls of the roaster well and -embedded in the insulating material l5. 'I'he ranged to produce substantially smokeless operation when in use.

Further objects and advantages of this' invenfion will appear as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which charouter and inner walls of the roasting unit are adapted to overlap and form a .circumferential joint I6 atthe top of the roaster well and a marginal flange I1 is provided in the inner wall II adjacent the circumferential joint. In some roaster constructions it is customary to use a removable well within the roaster well. In those instances where such a construction is employed, it is to be understood that the niarginalilange will be provided adjacent the top portion of the I removable well.

Supported on the marginal flange I1 is anginverted pan I8 having vertical extending side walls I9 and a dished upper surface 20. At-

tached to the walls I9 are suitable handles |911. Located in the center of the upper surface is an opening 2i and the surface is sufficiently dished so that it has a substantial slope toward the opening 2| except at the edge 22 adjacent the side walls I9. Arranged in the dished upper surface is a vrack 23 upon which is placed the food to be broiled. It will be observed that, due toathe sloping of the surface 20, the rack is spacedv therefrom except at its edges. The surface 20 is highly polished and is adapted to reflect heat radiated thereto.

The entire structure just described constitutes a broiling pan for supporting the food to be broiled. It will Abe observed that the pan is of such construction and is supported in such a `manner that it isunnecessary to remove the sloping surface and drain through the opening` 2|. A drip pan 24 is located in the roaster well to catch the grease drained through openingv 2|. It will be observed that the pan 241s provided with circumferentially spaced bosses 25 which make it possible to support the drip. pan within the top of one of the cooking utensils I4i as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Located adjacent the broiling pan I8 is a fram or reflector 26 having end walls 21 and 21a and a top wall 28 rmly secured thereto by means of rivets 28. The top wall 28 is pressed from a at sheet of suitable material, such as aluminum, and includes side walls 30 and 3| which slope downwardly and outwardly from the remaining at portion of the top wall. The under surface 32 of the top wall is providedwith a suitable of the pair of prongs 43. The resistance wire 44 may be of any suitable material capable of generating and withstanding the operating temperatures of the broiling unit.

Provided in the L-shaped plate 38 of the heating unit assemb1y35 is an Vopening 46 through which extends a resilient clip 41 which is rmly attached at one end by means of a rivet 48 to the horizontally extending `portion of the L-shaped plate 38. Provided in the clip 41 is a detent 41a (Figs. 1 and 8), the purposel of which will more fully appear hereinafter. It will be observed that the resilient clip 41 extends substantially parallel to the contact prongs 43 but is spaced above the prongs as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. With such an arrangement, short cir- .cuiting of the heating unit by accidentally dropsurface which will reflect heat radiated thereto and the sloping portions 36 and 3| tend to concentrate the heat on the broiling pan I8. Pressed into the at surface of the top wall 28 is a dished portion 33, the surface of which is arranged to slope slightly toward the center at which an opening 34 is located. v'I'his surface 33 is adapted to serve as a griddle surface as will more fully appear hereinafter. i

Removably mounted in the reflector 26 is a heating unit assembly 35 which is a unitary structure comprising a pair of longitudinally extendingbars 36 which are arranged and maintained in substantially parallel relation by a transversely extended'bar 31 (Fig. 1) attached to the bars adjacent one end, andl an L-shaped as by welding. Mounted in each of the-ends 46 is an insulator 4| which is provided with a centrally arranged 'opening 4| a and a circumferential groove 42. In mounting the insulators 4| in the ends 40 of the transverse supporting rods 3,9 a substantially U-shaped loop is formed in the ends and the insulator is set into this loop so that the rod 39 extends into the groove 42 provided in the insulator. The upper portion of the U shaped loop is then bent downwardly so as to form a substantially closed loop about the insulator as shown in Fig. 3. I

A pair of contact prongs 43 extends through and is rmly attached to one wall of the L-shaped plate 38. Thel prongs 43 are insulated from the wall of the plate 38 by means of washers 43a of suitable insulating material. A suitably coiled resistance wire 44 is threaded through the opening lla in insulators 4| and is connected 'at its ends to the terminals 45 provided at the ends ping a kitchen utensil, such as a knife or a fork, on the contact prongs is prevented.

' Provided in one end wall 21a of the frame or reflector 26 adjacent the top edge thereof is a.

pair of openings 49 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive provided in the same end wall 21 is an opening 5| .through which is adaptedY to extend the contact prongs 43. The opening 5I is provided with a recess 52 adapted to receive the resilient clip 41. By means of the co-operation between the resilient clip 41 and the recess 52, the heating unit assembly is iirmly locked in position. In inserting the heating unit in the frame or reflector 26, the ends of the rods 36 adjacent the bar 31 are inserted in the openings 49 and -the heating unit is moved to the left a distance sufcient to permit the contact prongs 43 to clear the side wall 21; 'I'he unit is then moved upwardly until the prongs are opposite the opening 5|. It is then moved to the right until the end of the resilient clip 41 engages the recess 52, which is of such depth that the engagement of the clip 41 therewith automatically alignsthe right-hand end of the bars 36 with the openings 58 thereby facilitating the insertion of the bars into these openings. Upon further movement to the right,` .the clip 41 rides on the portion of the end wall 21 until the detentA 41a snaps over the end vwall and firmly locks the heating unit assembly in position. y

The heating unit assembly and the reector 'constitute the broiling unit. 'Withsuch a broiling unit, it is desirable to have it readily removable from the roaster when it is no longer needed and yet'hinged to the roaster when in use. Furthermore, it is desirable to have such a broiling unit adjustable to accommodate different types of food and to control the transmission of heat thereto. Turning to the structure for accom-v plishing these ends in accordance with this in- 'roasting operations. Ilrovided in the end of each hinge bracket remote from the slot 56 is a stud 51 extending outwardly from the sides thereof. A

hinge plate. of substantially channel shape having a pair oi' side walls 39 and ylil between which extends a wall 6| is adapted to be movably mounted on the studs 61. In order toeilect this mounting a recess or a slot 62 is cut into each of the side walls 59 and 30 adjacent the lower end thereof. The studs 51 are adapted to be inserted in the slots 62 thereby forming a rotatable or hinged mounting between the hinge plate 58 and the outside Wall I0 of the roaster. Provided in the wall 6l of the hinge plate along the longitudinal center thereof and extending substantially throughout the length of this wall is a slot 63, the purpose of which will be described presently.

Mounted on the side Wall 30 of the top wall 28 of the reilector 26 is a substantially L-shaped bracket 64 which is firmly fixed to the wall 30 by means of rivets 65. The bracket 6I is'provided with' a vertically extendingportion of substantial length and of such width that it can be inserted between the side walls 59 and.

60 of the channel shaped hinge plate 58. Provided in this vertically extending portion of the bracket 64 is a pair of studs 66 which are adapted to be inserted 1n the slot 63 provided in the hinge plate. It is apparent that with such an arrangement the frame 26 and the heating unit assembly mounted therein can be moved relative to the hinge plate and hence vertically adjusted with respect to the top of the roaster well and the broiling pan I3 supported thereon. The bracket 6I is also provided with a threaded openingv 61 into which is screwed a thumb screw 63 which is provided with a washer 69 adapted to firmly clamp or` lock the bracket 6l and the associated broiler 4unit in its vertically adjusted position, the thumb screw and washer arrangement ilrmly clamping the hinge plate and bracket in fixed relation with respect to each other. In order to prevent complete disengagement of the thumb screw with the bracket 6l the end of the thumb screw is peened over thereby making it impossible to remove it from the threaded portion 61.

As already pointedl out, the broiler unit by means of the hinge plate and its pivotal connection tothe hinge bracket 53 is 'adapted to be rotated with respect to the roaster. This means that the broiler unit can be swung from a horizontal position, such as shown in Figs.,1, 2 and 3, to a substantially vertical position, as

shown in Fig. 4. In order to facilitate this l, swinging movement a handle 10 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided in suitable openings H provided on the side wall 3| of the 'top well. The handle 10 is made of some suitable resilient material and 1s adapted to be inserted into the openings 'Il and then spring into position so that it extends substantially perpendicularly to the inclined wall 3| at all times thereby preventing it from becoming unduly heated during the broiling operation. Integral with the hinge plate is a flange 12 which extends substantially perpendicular to the wallk 6| of thev hinge plate. 'I'his iiange 12 -serves as a stop to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the broiling unit. When the flange 12 engages the outside wall I0 of the roaster, the broiler unit is in a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 4. The clockwise As previously pointed out, openings 2| and 3l are provided in the griddlesurface 33 and the surface 26 of the broiling pan respectively and the respective surfaces slope toward the openings.

During the operation of the attachment as either a broiler or a griddle surplus grease isdrained from the surface through theopenings and into the pan 2|. i

In operation, as a broiling unit, the cover of I are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The food to be broiled is then placed on the rack 23 and the frame and heating unit are rotated to the position shownin Figs. 1 and 3. Depending upon the food to be broiled and the manner in which it is to be broiled, the frame and heating unit are vertically adjusted with respect to the broiling pan by sliding the studs 66 in the slot 63 provided in the hinge plate. When the desired position is obtained, the frame and heating unit are locked in the adjusting position by means of the thumb screw 68. During the broiling of the food, it is unnecessary to disturb the ad-V justment of the frame and heating unit unless it is desired to alter the manner in which the food is being broiled. If it is desired to inspect or turn the food resting on the broiling pan rack, the frame and broiling unit may be rotated about the studs 51 in the manner indicated.

When the food has been placedin position and y-the frame adjusted to av suitable height, thecontact prongs are inserted in a suitable plug connection to a source of power. The spring clip 41 is so spaced with respect to the contact prongs 43 that the insertion of the prongs in a'suitable plug member causes the spring to be stressed upwardly thereby positively locking the heating unitl in position so long as the plug is in engagement with the contact prongs. In addition, the spring 41 exerts a force'on the plug member tending to hold it in engagement with the contact prongs thereby preventing accidental disengagement thereof. With a source of energy connected to the contact prongs, the heating unit Il is energized and heat is transmitted to the Afood Asupported on the broiler pan.- rack by direct radiation from the heating unit and also by reilection from the under surface of the top wall of the frame 26. In this manner the energy available for cooking is readily and eiliciently transmitted to the material to be cooked. As previously explained, any grease which is produced during the broiling operation runs down the sloping surface of, the broiling pan and through the opening 2l into the drip pan 24. In this way, the grease is quickly drained fromthe heated surface of the broiling pan and the undesirable smoking and burning of this grease is substantially eliminated. l

When the attachment is to be used as a griddle, the drip pan and broiling pan are again arranged in the position shown, and the frame 26 is mounted on the roaster as shownin Fig. 3. With the heating unit connected to a source of energy in th manner described in connection with the description of the broiling operation, the unit is energized and heat is transmitted to the griddle surface `33 by direct radiation from the surface1'20 of the broiling pan I8. It is to be observed that the heating element is mounted adjacent the griddle' surface thereby insuring that this surface will become sufficiently hot to jsuitably cook the food placed on the surface 33.

After the attachment has been used either as a broiler or as a griddle, the surfaces thereof may be readily cleaned by removing the frame lfrom the roaster and then detaching the heating unit assembly from the frame. To detach downwardly on the lspring clip 41 so that the detent 41a no longer engages the side wall 21,

of the frame. The unit is then moved to the 4left until the ends of the-contact prong 43 clear the en d u fall 21 of the frame. The unit is then moved downwardly and to the right until the -bars 36 are removed from the openings 49 pro- `that in accordance with this invention .there has been provided for an electric roaster a broiler Aand griddle attachment of simple and rugged construction which can be easily and conventhe heating element and also by reflection frommeans comprising integrally formed downwardly extending side walls on said pan having a depth greater than the depth of said sloping surface to support said surface above said well so that v said broiling unit may be used either during or. after a baking operation without removing said utensils from said cooking well.

Athe heating unit, it is only 'necessary to press 4. A broiling attachment adapted to be used with Ian electric'roaster of the type having walls deilning a cooking well with an opening at the top and having hinge brackets on one of said walls, comprising, a broiling pan having side walls adapted to engage said roaster walls adjacent said opening to support said pan so that no portion thereof lies within said well, a reflector adapted to be supported above said pan, a'heating, unit removably supported within said reflector,` a hinge plate extending downwardly iently operated without disturbing'the contents vof -the roaster well. While this invention has been described in detail in connection with one form thereof, itis to be understood that it is not to be limited to this form and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all modifications thereof within the true-spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combined baking and, broiling device comprising/'walls defining a cooking well having comprising walls defining a cooking well having A an opening at the top and adapted to receive through said opening utensils containing food to be cooked by a baking operation, a ilange formed on said walls adjacent said opening, and a broiling unit including a removabler broiling v pan having an upper surface and side walls projecting downwardly from said surface and engaging said flange to support said surface'above said opening and out of the 'portion of said well -occupied by said utensils so that a broiling operation may be performed during or after a baking operation without removing said utensils positioned in said well. 3. vA combined baking and broiling device comprising walls defining a cooking well having" an from said reflector and'having slots in the lower portion thereof adapted to engage said hinge brackets on said roaster to removably hinge said reflector on said roaster and above said pan. and means for adjustably securing said reflector to said hinge plate so that said reflector and said heating unit supported therein may be 'vertically adjusted relative to said pan to produce different broiling conditions.

5. An attachment adapted for usey with an electric roaster 'of the type having walls dening a cooking well open at the top and having hinge means on one of said walls, comprising, a substantially rectangular shaped reflector adapted to be supported above the top of said cooking well, a longitudinally extending heating unit supported within said reflector, a hinge plate 'having `slots inthe lower portion thereof adapted to engage said hinge means on said roaster wall to removably hinge said reflector and said heating unit on said roaster, a vertically extendingslot in said hinge plate, a bracket secured to said reflector, studs on said bracket `adapted to track in said vertically extending slot to permit vertical adjustment of said reflector and said heating unit secured thereto with respect to said top of said roaster well, and locking means extending through said slotso as to clamp said bracket and said hinge plate together to support said reector in its adjusted position on said roaster.

6. An attachment for use with an electric roaster of the type having walls dening a cooking well open at the top, comprising, a substantially rectangular shaped reflector, a longitudiopening at the top and adapted to receive through said opening utensils -containing food to be cooked by a baking operation, a flange formed in said walls adjacent said opening, a broiling unit including a removable broiling pan having a downwardly sloping top surface, and means for supporting saidpan on said flange, said nally extending heating unit removably supported within said reflector, a plate secured to said reilector and extending downwardly therefrom, means defining slots in the lower portion of said plate adapted to cooperate with brackets on one of said walls of said roaster to hingedly mount said reflector on said roaster above the top thereof, said slots having an open endportion permitting engagement or disengagement with said brackets, and a projection onsaid plate near they lower portion thereof adapted to engage said one wall of said. roaster to limit the hinging move- 'ment of said reflector to define an open position,

electric roaster of the type having walls defining a cooking Well open at the top and having hinge means on one of said walls, comprising, a substantially rectangular shaped reflector, a longitudinally extending heating unit supported within said reflector, a hinge plate extending downwardly from said reflector and having slots in the lower portion thereof adapted to be engaged by said hinge means on said roaster to hinge said reflector on said roaster so that it lies above the top of said roaster well, means for adjustably securing said reflector to said hinge plate so that said reflector and said heating unit secured theretomay be vertically adjusted with respect to the top of said cooking well, and a projection integrally formed on said hinge plate adapted to engage said wall of said roaster to which said hinge means are secured to limit the hinging movement of said reflector and define an open position, said slots being positioned in said hinge plate so that when said reflector is in said open position said attachment may be readily removed from said roaster.

8. A combined broiler and griddle attachment for an electric roaster comprising a griddle surface, a reflecting surface on the under side of said griddle surface, a heating unit removably secured to said griddle surface adjacent said reflecting surface, a broiling pan adapted to be supported below said heating unit, said broiling pan having a reflecting surface in the path of heat radiated from said heating unit, means on said broiling pan for supporting foods to be broiled, and means for vertically adjusting said griddle surface with said heating unit secured thereto with respect to said broiling pan, said means having one position in which said griddle surface and said heating unit secured thereto are supported in close proximity to said broiling pan so that substantially all of the heat emitted by said heating unit is transmitted to said griddle surface either directly or by reflection from said upper reflecting surface of said broiling pan to raise the temperature of said griddle surface to that required for griddle operations, and a plurality of other positions in which said griddle surface and said heating unit secured thereto are supported at greater distances from said broiling pan than in said one position depending upon the thickness of said food to be supported on -said supporting means for broiling and the amount of heat required for the particular broiling operation, said griddle surface when in said other positions receiving substantially less heat than when in said one position so that its temperature is lower' thanthat required for griddle operations.

9. A broiler-griddle attachment for an electric roaster having a roasting well with an opening at the top and a marginal flange adjacent said opening, comprising, a broiling pan having side walls adapted to engage said marginal flange to support said pan so that no portion thereof lies within the roasting well, a reflecting upper sur-- face on said broiling pan, a reflector mounted above said broiling pan, a griddle surface integrally formed in the top of said reflector, a heating unit detachably mounted in said reflector adjacentthe under side of said griddle surface, and means for vertically adjusting said reflector with respect to said broiling pan, said adjusting means having one position for griddle operations in which said reflector and said heating unit are supported in close proximity to said broiling pan so that substantially all of the heat from said lheating unit is transmitted to, said griddle surface either directly or by reflection from said upper reflecting surface of said broiling pan to heat said griddle surface to the temperature required for cooking operations thereon, and having a plurality of other positions for broiling operations in which said reflector is vertically spaced from said broiling pan so that said pan may support food to be broiled having different thicknesses, said griddle surface receiving substantially less heat when in said other positions than when in said one position so that its temperature is lower than in said one position.

10. A broiler-griddle attachment adapted for use with an electric roaster having Walls defining a cooking well with a top opening and a marginal ange surrounding said opening, comprising, a. broiling pan adapted to be supported on said flange and having a downwardly sloping upper surface terminating in a drain opening, a reflector supported above said broiling pan, a heating element removably mounted in said reflector, a depression in the upper surface of said reflector defining a griddle surface, means deflning a drain opening in said griddle surface directly above said drain opening in said broiling pan and spaced from said heating unit so that grease may be drained from said griddle surface without contacting said heating unit, and means positioned below said drain opening in said broiling pan and adapted to be received in the cooking well of said roaster for collecting the greases.

drained from said'broiling pan and said griddle surface so that substantially smokeless operation of said attachment is produced.

HARRY W. UHLRIG. DAVID W. GUSTAVESON. 

